What Are the Epidemiological Methods to Study Economic Hardship?

Epidemiologists use various methods to study the impact of economic hardship on health:

Surveillance Systems: These systems collect data on health outcomes and economic indicators to track trends and identify at-risk populations.
Cohort Studies: Longitudinal cohort studies follow groups of individuals over time to assess the long-term health effects of economic hardship.
Cross-Sectional Studies: These studies provide a snapshot of the association between economic status and health outcomes at a specific point in time.
Case-Control Studies: By comparing individuals with specific health conditions to those without, researchers can identify potential economic factors contributing to these conditions.